Recoil mechanism for guns



Aug. 3, 1937. D. A. GURNEY 2,088,592

RECQIL MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed June 19, 1955 Davtun Adj-21w w AttmrnPatented Aug. 3, 1937 STATES PATENT QFFEQE 2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a recoil mechanism for guns and moreparticularly it has reference to the regulator of such a mechanism.

In recoil mechanisms of the hydropneumatic type the retarding influenceis exercised by means of a liquid which is obliged to pass through anorifice whose size is diminished as the movement proceeds, therebychecking the recoiling mass. The liquid acts through a floating pistonto compress a gas whose expansive force is utilized to restore the guninto battery.

The regulator of this mechanism includes a spring-held valve which isopened by the liquid at the commencement of recoil and which is supposedto be closed by its spring at the commencement of counterrecoil. Due tothe pressure in the system the valve is slow in closing and as aconsequence the initial movement in counterrecoil is too rapid.

The object of this invention is to construct and arrange the valve sothat it will be immediately closed at the proper time through the actionof its spring supplemented by the liquid under pressure for the purposeof obtaining a smooth and regulated initial movement in counterrecoil.

3 To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction,arrangement and combination of elements described hereinafter andpointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

35 A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 is a transverse longitudinalsectional view through the recoil mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

There is shown a part of a gun cradle including parallel cylinders 5 and6 which are in fluid communication through the port I. A piston 8 in thecylinder 5 has its rod extending through one end for attachment to a gunlug 9 so that on recoil of the gun the piston is retracted in theaccustomed manner to force a fluid such as oil from the cylinder 5 intothe cylinder 6.

The mechanism in the cylinder 6 consists essentially of a tubularregulator I0 having its rear end attached as at II to the cylinder inrear 55 of the port I and having an annular flange I2 adjacent its frontend for carrying a sleeve I3 which constitutes a head fitting in thecylinder. A throttling bar I4 movable in the regulator passes through anorifice I5 in the front end It of the sleeve and is carried by afloating piston I! which is fitted in the cylinder in front of thesleeve. The piston I1 divides the cylinder 6 into a rear oil chamber I8and a front air or gas chamber I9.

The annular flange I2 of the regulator is provided with passages 20 forconducting the oil to the floating piston H. An annular valve seat 2i isprovided on the regulator in front of the passages 20 and is adapted tobe engaged by a tubular valve 22.

The valve is supported and guided by a flange 23 on its rear end whichfits in the sleeve I3 and by means of its front end 24 which flts in arecess 25 in the front end I8 of the sleeve I3. The valve is movablyheld in closed position by a spring 26 embracing the valve and confinedbetween the flange 23 and the end I6 of the sleeve I3. The wall of thevalve is provided with apertures 21 which serve to prevent trapping ofthe oil.

An annular rib 28 is formed on the inner. wall of the valve and ispreferably positioned forward- 1y of the front end of the regulator whenthe valve is either opened or closed. An annular rib 29 is likewiseformed on the front extremity of the valve and has a beveled rear face30.

The inner Wall of the regulator is formed with grooves 3 I. For purposesof illustration fluid passages 32 are provided in the rear end of theregulater.

In operation, when the gun is fired it moves to the rear in recoil andretracts the piston B which forces the oil in the cylinder 5 through theport I and into the chamber I8 of the cylinder 6. The oil under pressureflows through the passages 20, unseats the valve 22, and is forcedthrough the throttling orifice I5. The oil on leaving the regulator actson the rear face of the floating piston I! and moves it forwardly tocompress the air or gas in the chamber I9. The movement of the pistonproduces Withdrawal of the throttling bar It which gradually diminishesthe effective opening of the orifice I5.

When the parts are brought to rest the compressed fluid in the chamberI9 reacts on the floating piston to drive it rearwardly and force theoil back through the orifice I5. At the commencement of thecounterrecoil movement the spring 26 should immediately move the valve22 to closed position but as it is necessarily slow in action due to thepressure in the system, the oil being forced rearwardly by the floatingpiston is used to assist in closing of the valve by acting on the rib 28which serves as a bafile.

With the valve closed the oil is throttled through the grooves 31 andflows through the passages 32 whence it is available to act on thepiston 8 and thereby return the gun into battery.

I claim:

1. In a recoil mechanism, a cylinder, at regulator within the cylinderand having a head fitting the cylinder, a valve seat in the head, atubular valve supported at its front and rear ends in the head, a springon the outside of the tubular valve for normally holding the valve onits seat, an internal annular rib on the sleeve positioned. intermediateits ends, and an internal rib on the end of the tubular valve and havinga beveled face on the side towards: the valve seat. '2. In a recoilmechanism, a cylinder, a regulator within the cylinder and having a headfitting the cylinder, a valve seat in the head, a tubular valvesupported at its front and rear ends in the head and having one endportion for engaging the valve seat, a spring on the outside of thetubular valve for normally holding the tubular valve on its seat, and aninternal annular rib on the other end portion of the tubular valve.

DAYTON A. GURNEY.

